DONALD HEATH: Troy coach says GSU a good fit for Sun Belt

Not since wheeling in a wooden horse had the name Troy drawn as much attention. But exactly nine years and a day ago, Troy was at the center of the college football universe with a Thursday night game on ESPN in Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“ESPN brought the big TV crew — (Kirk) Herbstreit was here. One of their good-looking girls was on the sidelines,” Blakeney said. “It was a great night, a great night for Troy athletics, a great night for Troy University, period.”

For the first time, the Trojans were hosting a team from a BCS conference.

It was their fourth year in the Football Bowl Subdivision and first year in the Sun Belt.

But there was a time when Blakeney and Troy, located in a sleepy rural town of about 18,000, were quite content playing in the lower divisions. Quite content competing in the playoffs.

Quite content being third fiddle to a couple of in-state powers.

What school does that sound like?

“It was a no-brainer for Georgia Southern to join the Sun Belt,” Blakeney said. “It’s not an automatic qualifier, but the Sun Belt is still in the big time. There’s no question Georgia Southern can be a success at this level.”

Blakeney has found a happy home in Troy. He played at Auburn, then coached for his alma mater as an assistant under Pat Dye.

In 1990, Troy hired Blakeney to take its football program from Division II to I-AA (now FCS). Within a decade, Blakeney led the program into the FBS.

“When we first started (leaving Division II), Georgia Southern was who we wanted to be like,” Blakeney said.

Ironically, Troy’s a good program for Georgia Southern or any FCS team moving up to the next level to emulate.

Many might point to the ultra success of Boise State from FCS to FBS power, but maybe Troy is a more realistic example of what a good, smaller school can do.

In 12 years, the Trojans have gone to five bowl games. In nine years of conference play, Troy has won five Sun Belt titles.

The Trojans took their lumps at first, losing four games to major I-A teams by an average of more than 32 points a game in 2001.

But Troy surprised Mississippi State 21-9 that year. Two seasons later, it beat highly regarded Marshall.

In 2007, the Trojans struck again on national television and beat Oklahoma State

Now it’s hardly a surprise when Troy holds its own with an established FBS team. Despite a 5-7 season a year ago, the Trojans still beat Navy in a non-conference game.

Mississippi State came to Troy and squeaked out a 30-24 win. The Tennessee Volunteers won’t be volunteering to play the Trojans any time soon. Troy racked up 721 yards — the most ever allowed by Tennessee – in the Vols’ 55-48 win.

Parallel paths

“I think our journeys are similar,” said Blakeney about Troy and Georgia Southern. “Football is the bell cow in the South and you want to be successful at the highest level you can be.”

Troy’s 12,000-seat capacity stadium was bumped up to 17,500 in 1998, then to 30,000 with the move to FBS. The school doesn’t fill the stadium, but it has a niche.

Blakeney said the team gets good community and student support. Troy attracts fans from three military bases within a 100-mile radius.

The Savannah State game Saturday night drew more than 20,000 and that couldn’t have been an easy sell.

The school hasn’t stopped looking ahead. A $25 million project to house football operations and another 10-14 suites has been scheduled.

Troy spent $40 million to build the squeaky clean Trojan Arena (a capacity of 6,000), which opened last season.

For a move to Conference USA?

Blakeney balks at the teams that left the Sun Belt to go to Conference USA.

“They took a step down,” he said. “I’m not concerned about the teams leaving. I’m proud to be associated with the ones coming in (to the Sun Belt).”

Blakeney isn’t among the Troy fans who envision the day when the Trojans are competitive with an Alabama or Auburn. He doesn’t see the school’s future entwined with the instate powers.

Neither Alabama nor Auburn has played Troy in football since the Trojans’ move to FBS.

“I quit worrying about Auburn and Alabama. They’re cowards and you can print that,” he said. “Troy people would love to play them, but they’re chicken. I’m not talking about the (Alabama or Auburn) coaches and the players. I’m talking about the ones who wear the panties who make decisions.”

Donald Heath is a sportswriter for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at 912-652-0353 or email him at donald.heath@savannahnow.com.